Directive No. 39/TTg on ensuring safety for fishery workers and vessels operating at sea

DIRECTIVE

ON ENSURING SAFETY FOR PERSONS AND FISHING VESSELS OPERATING AT SEA

In recent times, although the State has issued many regulations requiring local authorities at all levels and fishermen to take preventive measures to reduce risks to persons and fishing vessels when encountering natural disasters, in practice, due to complacency, enforcement of these regulations has been lax, arbitrary, lacking in supervision, and without decisive measures. As a result, in recent years, storms have caused significant losses in terms of lives and property. In 1996 alone, a single storm claimed hundreds of fishermen's lives and resulted in substantial losses...

To proactively prevent and minimize damage to lives and property of fishermen caused by storms, the Prime Minister issues the following directive:

1. The Ministry of Fisheries shall immediately undertake the following tasks:

- Review current regulations, amend and supplement specific provisions on safety equipment and rescue for persons and fishing vessels such as life jackets, firefighting equipment, communication devices, etc., suitable for each water area, type of vessel, and fishermen's capital, ensuring that all fishing vessels must have minimum safety equipment when operating at sea.

- Coordinate with People's Committees at all levels and relevant sectors to regularly organize short-term training courses to guide fishermen on necessary knowledge regarding safety equipment and usage, and ensure timely supply of safety and rescue equipment to fishermen.

- Develop an overall plan for flood and storm prevention in the sector and specify specific locations for residence, anchorage of fishing vessels, and evacuation sites in each region and locality.

- Coordinate with the Ministry of Transport to organize registration and issuance of permits for fishing vessels equipped with sufficient safety and rescue equipment.

- Establish Search and Rescue Centers for persons and fishing vessels operating at sea in each area according to Decision No. 780/TTg dated October 23, 1996 of the Prime Minister, coordinating with the National Committee for Air and Sea Search and Rescue and related sectors to promptly rescue fishermen in case of accidents.

2. Provincial People's Committees and Municipal People's Committees directly under the Central Government shall be responsible for educating and promoting awareness among fishermen and owners of fishing vessels about the benefits and importance of fully equipping with rescue equipment, so they voluntarily comply with state regulations. They shall also organize inspections of fishermen's compliance with this work. In cases where safety conditions are not met as prescribed, fishermen shall not be allowed to go to sea, and the provincial or municipal People's Committee directly under the Central Government shall bear responsibility for fishermen's deaths due to lack of safety equipment as prescribed.

3. The Ministry of Transport shall be responsible for coordinating with the Ministries of Fisheries and Defense to organize communication networks and maritime safety systems (lighthouses, buoys, markers, etc.) along inland waterways and coastal areas.

4. The Ministry of Defense shall lead and coordinate with the National Committee for Air and Sea Search and Rescue to stipulate the time and method of organizing warning signals for storms and rescuing persons and fishing vessels in distress.

5. The Ministry of Finance, in conjunction with the Ministry of Fisheries, shall study and propose policies and specific measures to encourage fishermen to purchase safety and rescue equipment, to be submitted to the Prime Minister for decision in the first quarter of 1997; Direct insurance agencies to organize compulsory insurance for crew members and encourage voluntary insurance for vessel hulls.

6. The Ministry of Planning and Investment shall consider allocating annual financial plans for the Fisheries, Defense, Interior, and Transport sectors to effectively carry out preventive and rescue work for persons and fishing vessels.

7. The Central Steering Committee for Flood and Storm Prevention shall closely coordinate with the Ministry of Fisheries, General Administration of Meteorology and Hydrology, General Post Office, and People's Committees of provinces and municipalities directly under the Central Government, and mass media to promptly inform fishermen of abnormal weather conditions, especially during the rainy season, to enable them to proactively go to sea and avoid accidents while fishing at sea.

8. The National Committee for Air and Sea Search and Rescue shall direct the Ministry of Fisheries and related ministries and sectors to promptly organize rescue operations for fishermen and fishing vessels in case of accidents.

The Prime Minister requests that Ministers, Heads of ministerial-level agencies, and agencies under the Government, Chairmen of Provincial People's Committees and Municipal People's Committees directly under the Central Government, within their respective responsibilities, urgently organize the strict implementation of this Directive and report to the Prime Minister./.